learning pace
Teaching Advanced Pieces
Hello, I’ve got three students whose private music, found and sourced by themselves, is Moonlight Sonata. Two are teenagers in FDN 2 and 3 and one is early in TFMM and in FDN 8.The teenagers use youtube tutorials. All love the piece and I admire…
Exercise to Learn about Learning
Years ago I created an exercise to help students really learn, experientially, the value of Controlling the Events. Something that could, in a single exercise, give real felt clarity about the different results that come from CTE vs. not. I’ve done it for years in…
When To Move Ahead
I have been teaching an 8 year old for 4 months. He’s a really bright kid and generally picks things up pretty quickly. We are just finishing up Chester and I’d like to begin Ode to Joy this week. The reason I haven’t moved ahead…
Teaching a 5 year old
Keywords: 5 year olds, groups, private I’m a new teacher in Medina Ohio, currently with 3 students and about to add 2 more. It’s already been interesting due to the varying ages and experience: I have a sister and brother (10 and 8 years old)…
Starting Lessons with an Experienced Student
I am pretty brand new – only taught 2 lessons so far. I have just got off from a phone conversation with a Dad. He has pretty much decided to have his son (7th grader with 5 years of traditional lesson) taking lessons from me.…
Parent Complaint about Group Lessons
For those of you who teach mostly in groups, how have you addressed complaints from parents about group lessons and the student to teacher ratio? (Meaning they feel their child isn’t getting enough ‘piano time’ in their new group lesson)? I teach mostly small groups.…
All Inclusive Tuition
Alex (Thai), Stephanie, and I opened our combined commercial studio in March. So far, so good! We’re still working together and Thai doesn’t have too many white hairs yet. We recently started a discussion about switching to an “all inclusive” tuition package, where we would…
Pace of Progress
A teacher expressed concern about how much of the curriculum she gets through each year. Here is Neil Moore’s response. How Many Songs per Year Should Students Learn? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRmE3QrNEmA&list=PL3o0aF_9qHn4F2sy8QRuPb_jf_r4D9823&index=20 Original video posted April 4, 2017
Remembering Compositions
Below is an email from a parent. Any advice on strategies I could suggest? This student has been with me for about 6 months. He is in first grade and is moving through Foundation pieces at a just-under-average pace. I have noticed memory is an…
MAC Program Progression
I posted about the MAC program to someone looking for piano exposure for some younger homeschooling kids in a facebook group I am in. She is now asking me more and I’m not sure how to respond since I haven’t actually been through the whole…